The John-Daryl Files

President Barack Obama met Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper at the White House Wednesday, amid Canadian fears of US protectionism and Ottawa's fresh vow to pull troops out of Afghanistan by 2011. The Oval Office talks took place just a week before both leaders will be key players in efforts to adjust global strategies for beating recession at the G20 summit of world economic powerhouses and developing nations in Pittsburgh. Both men faced intense political pressure at home ahead of their encounter, a scenario which often leads to tension in the crucial multi-billion dollar trading relationship along the continent-wide US-Canada border. Harper said before ... Read Full Story

President Barack Obama says there is no "immediate decision pending" on sending more troops to Afghanistan. The U.S. and NATO commander, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, delivered a grim assessment of the war to Washington last month and is expected to follow up soon with a request for thousands of additional troops and more equipment. That would leave Obama to decide whether to expand a war polls say is rapidly losing public support. He already has roughly doubled the size of the American military force in Afghanistan, with only limited gains. Obama spoke briefly to reporters Wednesday after meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper in ... Read Full Story

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper hailed Afghanistan's landmark elections Thursday as "messy," but also a "remarkable" success for democracy. "The Afghan election, for all its warts... was remarkable," Harper told reporters. "We always know the democratic process, even in this country, can be messy from time to time. "When you look at a country that had virtually 30 years of civil war without any real history of democratic governance, what is taking place in Afghanistan, despite all its challenges, is remarkable." The Taliban had cast a pall over the elections -- which will also see 420 councillors chosen in 34 provinces across the country ... Read Full Story

$10 makes all the difference in the world Standing in the grocery line on Tuesday found Sally commiserating with a lady about buying food on a budget.  The conversation turned to kids living at home.  The lady shared her story with Sally about how here son had moved back home recently.  He was 40 years old and due to complications from diabetes, he was unable to work.  Sally shared our story of how diabetes affected us.  She also continued with my running in the Reggae Marathon on December 5 in Negril to raise $10,000 for the Canadian Diabetes Association.  What happened next is stunning. The ... Read Full Story

Givers Gain. That is the motto of  Business Network International (BNI).  I belong to the Georgian Bay Chapter based in Collingwood.  I use it with respect to illustrate the positive and inspiring things we have Reggae Marathon December experienced throughout 2009.  Especially in working toward the goal of raising $10,000 for the Canadian Diabetes Association by running in the Reggae Marathon on December 5 in Negril, Jamaica.  So far we have raised just over $3,800.  Sally and I are blown away by the generous donations so far. With two weeks to go, the final push is on:  training peaks this weekend with a long slow distance ... Read Full Story